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<br />V. CRITERION 5 - Socio-economic Effects <br /> <br />A. Local and regional employment in income effects <br /> <br />Selection of either the wilderness or nonwilderness alternative would <br />have negligible impacts on local employment or income. <br /> <br />B. Mineral impacts <br /> <br />Additional annual mineral extraction of approximately $12,600,000 would <br />be necessary to significantly affect Alamosa County employment. To <br />significantly impact employment in the resource area additional annual mineral <br />extraction of approximately $34,000,000 per year would be necessary. BLM <br />geologists do not believe this additional extraction is likely. <br /> <br />C. Trends <br /> <br />Both Alamosa County and the San Luis Valley have significantly lower <br />per capita income than Colorado and the nation. Estimations show that this <br />condition is persisting and the gap is widening. Unemployment in the San Luis <br />Valley is significantly higher than the state average, particularly in those <br />counties outside Alamosa County. Population in the county and the area has been <br />stagnant over the last 10 years. These factors indicate the continuation of a <br />depressed economy. <br /> <br />D. National values resulting from wilderness designation <br /> <br />Net benefits to wilderness users are estimated to be approximately <br />$50,000. Net measurable losses t6 other users are estimated to be less, <br />especially if forestry sales and wildlife projects are not initiated. <br /> <br />(':.;2753 <br /> <br />A-38 <br />